Off road HEAVY truck owners say they will continue the strike which started on Friday in protest against increased taxes and fines for excess cargo. Major losses from the work stoppage were recorded. On Monday Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif denied in press statements that his government's intention was to increase the financial burdens of truck owners. The problem, he said, centred on an executive decree which aimed to amend accountancy practice. Nazif pledged to meet with truck owners to discuss the issue. Nazif's statements followed a meeting between Ahmed Rifaat, chairman of the Tax Authority, and representatives of truck owners. After the meeting truck owners said the government had responded to half their concerns. Rifaat gave verbal orders to taxation departments across Egypt to apply the old taxation system in determining taxes. Even so, many truck owners insist that they will continue their strike until the government responds to all their demands. Two years ago the government said it would ban trailers from January 2011, claiming they were responsible for 60 per cent of road accidents in Egypt. Truck owners say the decision means that more than 60,000 trucks -- with a total value of LE1.5 billion -- will be made redundant. Copts released PROSECUTOR-General Abdel-Meguid Mahmoud has ordered the release of 70 Copts arrested after clashes with security forces late last month in Omraniya district in Giza. The release decree came after lawyers requested that the authorities take into consideration the age and the health conditions of the detainees. The prosecutor-general forwarded the request to the Giza prosecutor to determine who should be released on humanitarian grounds. In a statement issued on Monday, the prosecutor-general promised to review the cases of the remaining 84 detainees. Before the release order was issued the South Giza Court had extended custody for the defendants for an additional 15 days. Clashes erupted last November when security forces attempted to stop construction work at the Virgin Mary and Archangel Michael Church in Omraniya. Police arrested dozens of Copts on charges of damaging public property and causing the death of a senior police officer. New look for book festival THE 2011 Cairo International Book Fair (CIBF) is to have a new look, reports Nevine El-Aref. It will be hosted by the Cairo International Conference Centre (CICC) rather than the Nasr City Fair Ground (NCFG), its home for 42 years. The NCFG is undergoing major development, expected to last for several years. Culture Minister Farouk Hosni told Al-Ahram Weekly that the shift in venue offered an opportunity to upgrade all aspects of the fair. CIBF is among the largest international book fairs, and among its many traditions is the annual selection of a country as special guest of honour. At this year's fair, which opens on 26 January and runs until 6 February, China will be honoured. A programme of events has been organised presenting ancient and contemporary Chinese culture, art and literature. "Holding the fair at the CICC is a challenge that we will meet," says Mohamed Saber Arab, head of the Egyptian General Book Organisation. The fair will occupy 40,000 square metres of indoor and outdoor halls. Hundreds of publishers and booksellers from around the world will be represented. Items on display will range from fiction, religion and children's books to CD ROM Multimedia and teaching aides. CIBF will, as usual, host a distinguished array of scholars, novelists, media people and publishers. The fair will also honour Egyptians who have achieved success abroad, including scientist Farouk El-Baz, Hani Azer, who designed Europe's largest train station in Berlin, and scientist Ahmed Zuweil. In collaboration with the Novel Committee of the Supreme Council of Culture, the CIBF will also commemorate the birthday of Nobel Prize winner and Arab literary icon Naguib Mahfouz, the 50th anniversary of Beiram El-Tonsi's death and the 80th anniversary of Salah Jaheen's birth.
